Paul Lawrie in hunt for second Qatar win

On a day when seven of the eight Scots in the field safely made it through to the final two rounds, Lawrie leapt up the leaderboard with a six-under-par 66 for 140 to sit in a tie for sixth, just three shots behind the leader, Austrian Markus Brier.

Westwood and Casey, an impessive victor in Bahrain last Sunday, both shot 75 to crash out by one and two strokes respectively. Westwood's 30-foot eagle attempt on the last to stay alive hovered on the edge, but did not drop.

His exit gives Martin Kaymer the chance to take over at the top of the rankings after he improved seven shots on his first- day 77. The German needs to finish first or second tomorrow, though, and entering the weekend he is 10 adrift of Brier.

Lawrie, who followed up his win in Qatar 12 years ago by becoming Open champion at Carnoustie a few months later, closed with a 65 in Bahrain last week and admitted that had given him some encouragement for the third of four events on the Middle East Swing.

"The conditions were a little easier (today], but the course still played pretty tough so six-under was very nice," said the 42-year-old, who has bagged 12 birdies in his opening two rounds.

"It doesn't seem to be a problem getting my share of birdies, but keeping the mistakes off my card is proving more difficult. But I got a positive feedback from my last round in Bahrain and every shot is a prisoner with me."

Reminded of his triumph in 1999 - the second of his six Tour wins though the most recent was nine years ago - the Scot added: "Obviously I like the course set-up and I have never minded playing in the wind after learning my golf in the North-East."

Steven O'Hara (69) and David Drysdale (71) are also in a position to make a title challenge over the weekend, the pair sitting in a group sharing tenth spot on two-under.

Playing with fellow Aberdonian Lawrie, Richie Ramsay had a 70 for 145 to sit alongside Stephen Gallacher (73) and Peter Whiteford, the Fifer undoing some great work in the shape of an eagle and four birdies with two double-bogeys. Andrew Coltart, another former winner of this event, also made the cut after a 72 put him on 146, leaving Gary Orr as the odd one out among the Scots as he made his exit on 148 following a second-round 75.

Brier, ranked a lowly 478th in the world and playing on a sponsor's invitation after having to go back to the qualifying school in November, added a 66 to his opening 71 to be seven- under par. The 42-year-old is one ahead of South African Darren Fichardt, winner of the event in 2003. First-round leader Retief Goosen was still setting the pace with two holes to go, but while Brier was finishing with a 35-foot birdie putt, the 2007 champion double-bogeyed the short 17th and fell back to four under.

"After yesterday's wind it felt really calm," said Brier. "I still hit the ball well and I holed a few more putts, I hardly missed any."